Recent Posts

Obituary: Doris Frances “Tarzia” Purtell (1931-2021)

Our dear beloved mother left the earth peacefully this past September 6th with family by her side to go to the family table in Heaven where they toasted her arrival. She will be so greatly missed by family and friends. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Thomas …

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Niners fall to Pack in another last second Rodgers comeback

BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER Aaron Rodgers and Davonte Adams spearheaded a last minute comeback to set up Mason Crosby for the game-winning field goal as time expired to lead Green Bay to a 30-28 win over the 49ers Sunday evening at Levis Stadium. Crosby’s 51-yard field goal culminated a 42-yard Packers …

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Marte’s walk-off double gives A’s 2-1 win over the Astros

BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER Starling Marte’s walk-off ninth inning double gave the A’s a thrilling yet potentially heartbreaking 2-1 win over the Houston Astros Saturday afternoon at the Coliseum to keep their slim postseason hopes alive. Marte’s drive to right off Ryan Pressly (5-3, 2.32) ended a pitchers duel and set …

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Mellencamp still fab on Good Samaritan Tour 2000 live album

BY KARYN A. POKLETAR John Mellencamp’s professional career began in 1976. He’s a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall in 2008. He’s had multiple Grammy nominations and in addition to his indelible success, a slew of chart topping hits, 23 …

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The Livesays Give Us More Than We Bargained For On New Album

BY KARYN A. POKLETAR The Livesays are greatly accomplished musicians fronted by the bands namesake, singer-songwriter and guitarist William “Billy” Livesay, who toured with former E-Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons for over 12 years. The Livesays (Pronounced “thuh lev-va-sees”) independent release Not What I Bargained For is their fifth album, …

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Drought Shortens the Harvest Season for Alhambra Valley Pears

BY DEBRA J. MORRIS The sky begins to lighten as the sun rises over the rolling hills above Martinez, filtering light through the pear trees. It’s going to be another hot dry day at Alhambra Valley Pears & Beef, a farm nestled in the beautiful Alhambra Valley/Briones Valley Agricultural Preserve …

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Duvall’s blast, Rosario’s cycle lead Braves past Giants 3-0

BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER Adam Duvall‘s two-run seventh-inning home run broke open a pitchers duel between Max Fried and Anthony DeSclafani as the Atlanta Braves salvaged the final game of their weekend series with a 3-0 win over the Giants Sunday afternoon at Oracle Park. Atlanta got a stellar pitching performance …

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Anderson East’s “Maybe We Never Die” In need of resuscitation

BY KARYN A. POKLETAR Professionally known as Anderson East, Michael Cameron Anderson grew up in a small town of about 20,000 in Athens, Alabama. His new album Maybe We Never Die follows his 2018 hit Encore. Not surprising for a southern kid, East’s primary musical influence was the gospel hymn. …

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NFL 2021: Contenders for the Super Bowl

BY J.A. SCHWARTZ Continuing our countdown of the best teams in the NFL heading into the 2021 season, here’s our Top 8: 8. Los Angeles Rams: When a team can put Aaron Donald, who has won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice in the past three seasons, in …

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NFL 2021: The lowdown on the long shots

BY J.A. SCHWARTZ The 2021 NFL season will be the second straight campaign waged in the shadow of a pandemic. Last season, most of which was staged in cavernous stadiums largely empty due to virus avoidance procedures, still ended in a familiar way to NFL fans: with Tom Brady lifting …

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